www.newmagicsource.com - Product Reviews - The Gecko by Jim Rosenbaum

Take a look at our product reviews. You should always read up on what other people think of magic tricks available for purchase. You don't want to spend money on a trick that your not going to use or is just plain impractical. Here we give you an indepth review of the entire product. Do you have this product and want to add your two cents? Send your comments to David@newmagicsource.com or contact us on MySpace.com.

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Review of The Gecko by Jim Rosenbaum
By David Christopher

The Effect:

The Gecko is an ingenious, simple, and easy to use magic device. The hook up is almost instantaneous and the reset is just as fast. It is extremely light-weight and is so unobtrusive that you can have it set up at all times ready for use, and even forget that you are wearing it! It is appropriate for all skill levels from beginner to expert and is a must-have item for every performer. It can even be performed in short sleeves!

Jim Rosenbaum has invested countless hours and effort in developing and researching this magical device in order to ensure the overall quality and also in discovering all the things magicians will want to do with this amazing device. The Gecko provides you with thousands of possibilities for amazing instant miracles and is a definite must-have for bringing your magic to the next level.

David's initial reaction:

This is my initial reaction to the Gecko by Jim Rosenbaum. I have not begun the practice it requires. After practice I will update this review. But I feel it is important to talk about it now.

The box we recieved was full of materials and a dvd. Jim has provided you with a pleasing amount of materials for different sizes of vanishes. Anything that you would need for this effect can be found, if you should ever need to replace materials, in a craft or hobby shop.

Clothing requirements:

Yes clothing requirements. You will need to wear a "cover shirt". Andy uses a zippered hoodie sweatshirt. You can use a sports coat, a hawaiian shirt, your favorite button up from Old Navy. Point is, you wear a t-shirt, with a shirt over it that is open. The cover shirt can also be short sleeved.

I'm writing this review trusting that we can all gather that the gimmick is a pull. Anyone with knowledge of magic principles should have gathered that from the promo video. Is it better than the raven? yes. You can vanish a much wider variety of objects with this gimmick.

The gimmick:

The gimmick itself is clever. I wish I had thought of it. Fresh out of the box, you may find it hard to manipulate. Andy discusses how to modify the gimmick to work best for your handling. The materials suggested for modification are also included in the box.

Refills for the gimmick are available here, but you will not need them for a while. You get a whole bag of "sticky dots" in the box. I don't feel that I'm giving anything away by telling you they are sticky dots, after all they're on the site to purchase.

The sticky dots are very clean. Once you've done the vanish, you can get the vanished item off of the dots without any residue.

The Rigging:

The good thing about the rigging is that it adjustable. You can lessen or increase the tension of the gimmick to what suits your performance.

I will say one thing about the rigging, which goes into the handling aswell. This effect is an opener. You must be ready to do the effect before you approach the spectator. Reaching for the gimmick inside your shirt could be quite suspicious, unless you have a justifiable reason, like puting your deck of cards back into your inside pocket. This is only a suggestion unless you are a master of misdirection. I'm pretty good, but getting the gimmick from inside your shirt and placing it into your vanishing hand.... I dunno. Ask Andy Amyx.

Be set up before you approach. Use it as an opener.

The Sound Factor:

The rigging is strong. It sends the object to it's designated place. It is audible, depending on your personal set up. If your doing this trick in a public place, the ambient noise should more than cover it. "Doing it in someone's living room... you'll have some noise to cover." -Andy

A Few Things to Consider:

The video shows you item after item dissapearing. You won't be able to vanish more than two items before a reset.... that's if you use all the materials in the box.

You would be better off using a solid object. A box of candy would make plenty of noise that you really don't need.

This IS the next level of the pull. It surpasses all other pulls. The work Jim did was not in vain.

This effect should be practiced plenty before showing it in public. But that goes without saying with all magic performance. Practice, practice, practice.

Don't worry about using sticky dots, they are reusable for several vanishes before new dots are needed.

Should I invest?

Yes. If vanishing objects is something you would do, I suggest this method. The work is well worth it. There is nothing more magical than a solid object completely vanishing from your hands... especially if it's a borrowed object.

First discovery:

After some work with the gimmick, we found that if you make a small loop with the materials provided and tie it to the end of the gimmick, you'll access the gimmick from your cover shirt easier. This was not covered in the instructional dvd. You may find it works for you. Be sure to make the loop small enough to grab with one finger. You don't want the loop to be exposed when vanishing.